U. S. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF MERCHANDISE

on

CD-ROM




Technical Documentation
CDEX/IM



Washington, DC






1990









U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Robert L. Mosbacher, Secretary
Thomas J. Murrin, Deputy Secretary
Michael R. Darby, Under Secretary
for Economic Affairs








Bureau of the Census

Barbara Everitt Bryant, Director


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BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Barbara Everitt Bryant, Director
C. L. Kincannon, Deputy Director
Roland H. Moore, Associate Director
for Field Operations
Charles A. Waite, Associate Director for Economic Programs


DATA USER SERVICES DIVISION

Gerard C. Iannelli, Chief
Marie G. Argana, Assistant Chief
for User Services

FOREIGN TRADE DIVISION

Don L. Adams, Chief
Gerald F. Kotwas, Assistant Chief for Trade Programs
Charles A. Woods, Assistant Chief for Data Systems
Bruce C. Walter, Assistant Chief
for Methodology and Quality Assurance

*****************************************************************

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This technical documentation was prepared within the Data Access and Use
Staff, under the direction of James P. Curry, Chief, and Barbara J.
Aldrich, Chief of its Technical Information Section.  Delores Baldwin was
coordinator for this document.  James Clark of the Systems and Programming
Branch provided technical support.  Word processing support was provided by
Mary Wright.  Technical assistance was provided by Milton Kaufman and
George Tormey of the Foreign Trade Division.

The file should be cited as follows:

U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM [machine-readable
data file] / prepared by the Bureau of the Census. --Washington:  The
Bureau [producer and distributor], 1990.

The technical documentation should be cited as follows:

U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM Technical
Documentation / prepared by the Bureau of the Census. --Washington:
The Bureau, 1990.

Questions about the documentation should be directed to Data User Services
Division, Data Access and Use Staff, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC
20233.  (301) 763-2074.

Questions about the CD-ROM should be directed to Data User Services
Division, Systems and Programming Branch, Bureau of the Census, Washington,
DC  20233.  (301) 763-4677.

Questions about the subject matter should be directed to Foreign Trade
Division, Trade Data Services Branch, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC
20233.  (301) 763-5140.

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Table of Contents

U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM




U.S. Exports of Merchandise on CD-ROM           Chapter I

     Abstract.........................................1-3
     Introduction.....................................1-5
     Data Source and Coverage.........................1-7
     Files On CD-ROM.................................1-11

U.S. Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM..........Chapter II

     Abstract.........................................2-3
     Introduction.....................................2-5
     Data Source and Coverage.........................2-7
     Files On CD-ROM..................................2-9

Appendix A.  Order Form...............................A-1

Appendix B.  User Notes...............................B-1
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CHAPTER I

Table of Contents

U.S. Exports of Merchandise on CD-ROM




Abstract..............................................1-3

Introduction..........................................1-5

Data Source and Coverage..............................1-7

Files On CD-ROM......................................1-11

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Abstract


U.S. Exports of Merchandise on CD-ROM
[machine-readable data file] / prepared by the Bureau
of the Census.  -Washington:  The Bureau [producer
and distributor], 1990.



Type of File:

Summary statistics.

Universe Description:

The universe is reported U.S. export statistics, both government and
nongovernment shipments, of domestic and foreign merchandise (including
non-monetary gold and silver) from the U.S. Customs districts (the 50
states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), U.S. Foreign Trade Zones,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign countries.

Subject-Matter Description:

The file provides U.S. exports of domestic and foreign merchandise by
Harmonized Schedule B Commodity Code.  It contains quantity, value, and
shipping weight by country of destination, customs district of exportation,
and method of transportation.

Smaller files provide totals for commodity, country of destination, and
U.S. Customs districts of exportation.

These data are provided for current month and year-to-date.

Geographic Coverage:

Data are provided for Customs districts of exportation.

Technical Description:

File Structure:  dBase III format.  There are 9 database files and 10 index
files.  The database and index files provide information about detailed
exports as well as information about commodities, countries, districts of
exportation, and the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
(HS).  Further details on these files are provided in Chapter IV of the
technical documentation, Files on CD-ROM.

Reference Materials:

U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM Technical Documentation
One copy accompanies each order.  Additional copies are available for $5
from Customer Services, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.

Related Printed Reports:

U.S. Merchandise Trade (FT 900 and Supplement).  This report presents U.S.
export data on a free-alongside-ship (f.a.s.) value basis and provides
general import data both on a customs value and cost, insurance, freight
(c.i.f.) value basis.  Total exports, imports, and merchandise trade
balances are shown for each month of the current and preceding calendar
years.  This monthly report is available from the Foreign Trade Division,
Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.  The cost is $10 per month or
$120 for an annual subscription.  Portions of the report are available on
CENDATATM, the Census Bureau's online information service.

U.S. Merchandise Trade:  Exports, General Imports, and Imports for
Consumption SITC Commodity by Country (FT 925).  This publication presents
both customs and c.i.f. value information for general imports and imports
for consumption in terms of Standard International Trade Classification
(SITC) commodities.  The publication also shows f.a.s. value for SITC
commodity exports.  It includes both current month and year-to-date
information.  SITC commodity by country information is shown for those
countries where the average monthly value of each SITC commodity for either
exports or imports based on the year-to-date value is $50,000 or more.

Related Public Domain Software:

The Census Bureau has placed various software that can be used with CD-
ROM's in the public domain.  This software is available to users from the
following two sources:

    -  The Census Bureau's electronic bulletin board.  You may access the
bulletin board using your modem on (301) 763-1568.  For information, the
voice grade telephone number is (301) 763-1580.

    -  The CD-ROM Software Clearinghouse at the University of Tennessee.
For information contact:

     Institute for Electronic Data Analysis
     Department of Marketing, Logistics
        and Transportation
     316 Stokley Management Center
     University of Tennessee
     Knoxville, Tennessee  37996

     Phone (615) 974-5311

File Availability:

The CD-ROM may be ordered from Customer Services using the order form in
Appendix A.  The subscription rate for monthly releases from January to
December is $1200 per year.  The introductory subscription for September -
December 1989 data files is $400.  Individual CD-ROM's cost $150.

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Introduction


History

The United States may be said to have had an adequate set of import and
export statistics only since 1821.  During the years 1795-1801, import
value figures were estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
figures for the years 1790-1794 and from 1802-1820 were apparently
estimated many years later.  In the case of exports, it was required by
statute that the dollar value in the statistics should be the value
reported by the master of the vessel on which the goods left the country,
but it was common practice for the U.S. Collectors of Customs to adjust
this reported value quite arbitrarily.  By an Act approved February 1820,
``to provide for obtaining accurate statements of the Foreign Commerce of
the United States,'' a provision was made for the preparation of
statistical accounts of the commerce of the United States with foreign
countries by the Register of the Treasury to show the kinds, quantities and
values of all articles exported to and of all articles imported from each
foreign country.  These early and simple beginnings of foreign trade data
have developed into the current comprehensive export and import statistical
program.  The statistics are used extensively by both the public and
private sectors of the country.

Uses of Foreign Trade Data

Following are some of the uses of foreign trade statistics made by the
public sector:

     -  To develop the merchandise trade figures which is part of the
balance of payments accounts

     -  To appraise and analyze major movements and trends (commodity
and geographic) in international trade

     -  To evaluate and plan such programs as the export expansion,
agricultural and assistance programs under the Foreign Assistance Act
and the Merchant Marine Act

     -  To measure the impact of tariff and trade concessions under
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the General
System of Preference

     -  As a statistical base to implement and analyze operations
under various international agreements such as the Multi-Fiber
Agreement, the Canadian Automotive Products Agreement, the
International Coffee Agreement, etc.

     -  To develop aggregative import and export data for use in the
National Accounts (GNP)

The Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce
District Offices, Department of Energy, Customs Service, Army Corps of
Engineers, Maritime Administration, Federal Maritime Commission,
International Trade Commission, Office of the Special Trade Representative,
and the Bureau of Economic Analysis are some of the U.S. government
agencies that use the foreign trade statistics to assist them in fulfilling
their administrative responsibilities.

Following are some of the uses of foreign trade statistics made by the
private sector:

     -  To appraise the general trade situation

     -  As a basis for share-of-the-market penetration studies

     -  As a basis for product and market development

     -  As one of the statistical bases for determining marketing
policies

     -  To measure the impact of competition

     -  To determine the need for the design of future facilities and
equipment

Exporters, importers, manufacturers, financial organizations, research
institutions, the petroleum industry, business organizations, the
agricultural industry, steamship lines, airlines, port authorities, and
international organizations are some of the principal non-U.S. government
users of the foreign trade statistics.

U.S. Merchandise Trade (FT 900) is released 45 days after the month covered
as a press release and is the first available monthly foreign trade report.
It contains overall export, import and trade balance figures that are
anxiously awaited by U.S. government agencies, Wall Street, other non-
government organizations as well as by foreign countries, particularly the
major U.S. trading partners.

Commodity Classification Systems Effective January 1, 1989

The United States has joined the rest of the world in adopting a new import
and export commodity classification system.  The new import and export
schedules are based on the international Harmonized Commodity Description
and Coding System (HS).

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System - HS.  The international
Harmonized Commodity and Coding System (HS) is a system for classifying
goods in international trade which has been developed under the auspices of
the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), located in Brussels.  The CCC is an
international organization consisting of representatives of about 150
countries.  The United States is represented in the CCC by the U.S. Customs
Service.

The HS is intended to serve as a universally accepted product nomenclature
classification of goods for the administration of customs programs, the
collection of data on exports and imports, the determination of
classification for assessment of freight charges, the collection of
transport statistics for each mode of carrier, and the collection of
statistics on the volume of domestic production and/or shipments.

The Harmonized System, like its predecessor Customs Cooperation Council
Nomenclature (CCCN), and the Brussels Tariff Nomenclature (BTN) systems, is
a commodity classification system in which articles are grouped largely
according to the nature of the materials of which they are made, as has
been traditional in customs nomenclatures. The HS contains approximately
5000 headings and subheadings covering all articles in trade.  These
provisions are organized in 96 chapters arranged in 26 sections which,
along with the interpretive rules and legal notes to the chapters and
sections, form the legal text of the Harmonized System.

The headings and subheadings of the international HS are identified by
number, of which the first two digits represent the heading position in
that chapter, and the second two digits represent the divisions
(subheadings) of the heading.  The HS is for the most part a hierarchical
system in the sense that there is nothing classifiable at a given 4-digit
heading level that is not included in the given chapter (2-digit level);
there is nothing classifiable at a given 6-digit subheading that is not
included in the 4-digit heading.  The 2-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit levels of the
HS all have meaning, from a logical and analytical statistical standpoint.
However, the 1- and 3-digit levels represent only a combination of numbers
and categories; these combinations may often not represent categories of
logical or analytical interest.  The HS 6-digit coding system can be
adopted as is by individual countries, or can be expanded by adding digits
for national purposes.  The Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (CCCN)
which will be superseded by the HS consists of approximately 1000 commodity
classifications.  The file Section6.DBF on the CD-ROM lists the complete
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.

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Data Source and Coverage



Coverage

The export statistics we compile and publish reflect, in general, both
government and non-government exports of domestic and foreign merchandise
(including non-monetary gold and silver,) from U.S. Foreign Trade Zones,
the U.S. Customs districts (includes the 50 States, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico), and the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign
countries, whether the exportation involves a commercial transaction or
not.  The statistics, therefore, include shipments under the Department of
Defense Military Sales and Grant-Aid Programs, shipments for economic
assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act and shipments under
P.L. 480 (The Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as
amended) and related laws.  The following are excluded from the export
statistics:  shipments to U.S. Armed Forces and diplomatic missions abroad
for their own use; shipments between the United States and Puerto Rico,
between the United States and its possessions (including the Virgin
Islands), and between these outlaying areas; exports from U.S. possessions;
in-transit shipments through the United States when documented as such with
Customs; transactions not considered to be of statistical importance such
as personal and household effects; temporary exports; low-valued or non-
commercial exports by mail and issued monetary coins of all component
metals.

Effective October, 1989, export statistics are fully compiled on shipments
valued over $2,500 to all countries.  Prior to 1989 this value limit was
$1,500.  Value data for shipments valued under $2,500 are estimated for
individual  countries using factors based on the ratios of low-valued
shipments to individual country totals.  The estimated data for shipments
valued under $2,501 appear in the statistics as ``Low-Value Shipments'' and
are excluded from commodity totals.

United States Adoption of the Harmonized System

The United States has adopted the Harmonized System as the direct basis of
its export and import classification system effective January 1, 1989.

The U.S. import schedule, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes (HTSUSA) consists of 10-digit
codes made up of the 6-digit Harmonized System code plus two additional
digits for the U.S. legal subdivisions of the international system and the
last two digits for statistical subdivisions.  The HS-based U.S. export
schedule, Schedule B, Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign
Commodities Exported from the United States also consists of 10-digit
codes, made up of the 6-digit Harmonized System plus an additional 4-digits
for statistical subdivisions.

The new HTSUSA and Schedule B incorporate the complete HS legal text and
detail.  They have identical descriptions and codes through the 6-digit HS
level, and to the extent practical, are directly comparable classifications
beyond that level.  Directly comparable means on a one-to-one basis or by
aggregation of two or more import classifications to a single export
classification.  It does not mean that, in all cases, one can go from
either a one or two or more export classifications to one import
classification.  In those instances where the HTSUSA and Schedule B
classifications are comparable on a one-to-one basis, the import and export
codes have the same 10-digit code.  When the content is not the same, the
two systems use different numbers.

The quantitative data required in the new HS import and export schedules
are in terms of the metric system of weights and measures.  Approximately
85 percent of the HS-based Schedule B commodities require specific units of
quantity with a slightly higher percent for the HTSUSA commodities.

Source of Export Information

The official U.S. export statistics are compiled by the Bureau of the
Census from copies of Shipper's Export Declarations (SEDs), which are
required to be filed with local Customs officials at the time the
merchandise is exported from the country.  Qualified exporters who are
authorized by the Bureau submit monthly data on their shipments directly to
the Bureau in the form of magnetic tape, diskette, direct transmission, or
monthly Shipper's Summary Export Declarations in lieu of filing individual
SEDs with the Customs Service at the time the shipments are made.  There
are about one million export shipments (SEDs) made each month of which
about
20 percent represent shipments made by exporters authorized to file monthly
reports directly to the Bureau.

The following items of information appearing on the Shipper's Export
Declaration (SED) form and monthly automated reports are processed for use
in the compilation of the export statistics.

Exporter Identification Number.  The exporters Internal Revenue Service
Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN), if no
EIN number has been assigned.

Related Party Transaction .  One between the U.S. exporter and the foreign
consignee, that is, an export from a U.S. person or business enterprise to
a foreign business enterprise or from a U.S. business enterprise to a
foreign person or business enterprise, when the person owns (directly or
indirectly) at any time during the fiscal year, 10 percent or more of the
voting securities of the incorporated business enterprise, or an equivalent
interest if an unincorporated business enterprise, including a branch.

Exporting Carrier.  The name of the carrier transporting the merchandise
out of the United States.

U.S. Port of Export.  (a) Overland-the U.S. Customs port where the surface
carrier crosses the border.  (b) Vessel and air-the U.S. Customs port where
the merchandise is loaded on the carrier that is taking the merchandise out
of the United States.  (c) Postal-the U.S. post office where the
merchandise is mailed.

Method of Transportation.  The mode of transport by which the merchandise
is exported.

Containerized (For vessel shipments only).  Cargo originally booked as
containerized cargo and that placed in containers at the vessel operator's
option.

Foreign Port of Unloading.  (For vessel and air shipments only).  The
foreign port and country where the merchandise is unladen from the
exporting carrier.

Country of Ultimate Destination.  The country in which the merchandise  is
to be consumed, further processed, or manufactured; the final country of
destination as known to the exporter at the time of shipment.

Schedule B Commodity Number.  The commodity number as provided in Schedule
B - Statistical Classification of Domestic and Foreign Commodities Exported
from the United States.  The ``check digit'' as shown in Schedule B shall
be reported immediately after the commodity number.

Gross Shipping Weight.  The gross shipping weight in kilograms including
the weight of the packaging and immediate containers but excluding carrier
equipment.

``D'' (Domestic) or ``F'' (Foreign).  (a) Domestic exports - merchandise
grown, produced, or manufactured (including imported merchandise which has
been enhanced in value) in the United States  (b) Foreign exports -
merchandise that has entered the United States and is being re-exported in
the same condition as when imported.

Net Quantity.  The amount in terms of unit(s) specified in Schedule B.

Value.  Selling price or cost if not sold, including inland freight,
insurance, and other charges to the U.S. port of export, but excluding
unconditional discounts and commissions.  This value is called the F.a.s.
(free alongside ship) value.

Date of Exportation.  The date of departure or date of clearance, if date
of departure is not known.

Values in Export Statistics

F.A.S Export Value.  The f.a.s. (free alongside ship) value is the value of
exports at the port of export, based on the transaction price including
inland freight, insurance and other charges incurred in placing the
merchandise alongside the carrier at the U.S. port of exportation.  The
value as defined, excludes the cost of loading the merchandise aboard the
exporting carrier and also excludes freight, insurance and other charges or
transportation costs beyond the port of exportation.

Articles Returned to the United States After Having Been Exported

Shipments exported from the United States for further processing or
assembly abroad and then returned to the United States are reflected in the
export and import statistics.  A good example is steel ingots that are
exported from the United States to Canada to be rolled into sheets in
Canada and then returned to the United States. When exported to Canada the
shipments are included in the export statistics as steel ingots with the
value of the ingots.  When the rolled sheets are returned to the U.S. they
are included in the import statistics under the import classification for
sheets with a total value of the imported product.  However, under
9802.00.6000 of the HTSUSA, duty is only assessed upon the value of such
processing outside the United States.  For these 9802.00.60 import
shipments a supplementary import report IM146A is prepared.  The report
will show the commodity and the country of origin with a total value, the
dutiable value, and the value of the U.S products included in the imports.

Another example is exports of headlights to Germany for assembly in
Mercedes being produced in Germany.  When the headlights are exported to
Germany, the shipments are included in the export statistics as headlights
with a value of the headlights.  When the Mercedes with the U.S. headlights
are imported into the United States, they are included in the import
statistics as automobiles with the total value of the Mercedes.  However
under 980200.8050 of the HTSUSA, the duty assessed is based on the full
value of the car less the cost or value of such products of the United
States. These 9802.00.80 import shipments are included in the supplementary
import report IM146A.

Textile articles assembled abroad from components produced in the United
States and imported into the United States are also covered under HTSUSA
9802.00.8050 (and 9802.00.8010) as discussed above.

Foreign Trade Zones

Foreign Trade Zones or as they are often called, Free Trade Zones, exist in
hundreds of locations throughout the world.  The zones consist of areas
within the physical limits of a country and operate with a minimum of trade
restrictions.  Their main feature is the avoidance or deferral of the
payment of Customs duties.  Foreign trade zones in the United States were
authorized by the Foreign Trade Zones Act of 1934.  The Act's aim is to
encourage economic growth in the United States by expediting and promoting
foreign commerce.  It provides for the establishment of a Foreign Trade
Zones Board, not as an independent agency with full-time members, but as a
Interagency Committee comprising of the Secretaries of Commerce, Treasury
and the Army.  The Board is chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and is
responsible for licensing and regulating foreign trade zones in the United
States.  The Board's program is administered through a Commerce Department
staff whose Director serves as the Executive Secretary of the Board.  The
U.S. Customs Service is responsible for supervising the zones once they are
established and in operation.

The establishment of foreign trade zones was intended to stimulate the
creation of jobs and investments in the United States.  The law was
structured in such a manner that no federal funds were to be spent on the
zones.  Zones were expected to be located at deep-water ports where most
international commerce was transacted at the time the act was passed with
the necessary facilities built by local and state governmental agencies.
However, currently in the United States most foreign trade zones and sub-
zones are located at airports and interior cities.

When a public general purpose zone serving a community cannot accommodate a
prospective user because of the type and scope of its proposed operations
the grantee of the zone may apply to the Foreign Trade Zone Board for
``subzone'' status for the firm at its own facility.  Subzones were
provided for in the Board's regulations in 1952, following the act's
amendment of 1950 to permit manufacturing in the zones.  At that time,
however, the zones usually did not have sufficient space for manufacturing
operations. As of June 30, 1986, there were 126 general purpose zones
approved with 63 active, and 96 subzones approved with 53 active.  In terms
of economic development, communities undoubtedly apply for a general
purpose grant so that they can attract future economic activity either
within the general purpose zone or in one or more subzones.  While a
community's chances for attracting a new industry are enhanced when it has
provisions for a foreign trade zone.  Foreign investors who are interested
in locating any type of manufacturing facility in the United States would
probably select a community that has a foreign trade zone.  In an era of
increased internationalization of manufacturing, the cost of not having a
zone may be the greatest cost of all.  Public relations considerations
probably are important factors in decisions by some local communities and
port authorities to request the establishment of foreign trade zones in
their areas.

The Census Bureau began including certain foreign trade zone transactions
in the foreign trade statistics in 1950.  Until July 1982, the statistics
reflected only foreign merchandise entering the U.S. Customs territory from
foreign trade zones.  During this period statistics were not compiled for
imports into zones or zone exports to foreign countries.  Beginning with
the July 1982 statistics, these movements of merchandise through foreign
trade zones were included in the U.S. trade statistics.  For statistical
purposes, zones are treated as warehouses with entrances of foreign
merchandise included in the general series of import statistics.  Movements
of merchandise from the zones into the U.S. territory are included in the
imports for consumption statistics.  Exports from the zones are included in
the export statistics.  Although individual foreign trade zones are
identified in the foreign trade detail records, problems of disclosure have
resulted in a decision to suppress identification of zone shipments in the
trade statistics released to the public.  In 1987 imports into U.S. foreign
trade zones amount to $9,455.9 million (c.i.f) and exports to foreign
countries from the zones totaled $5,154.1 million.  For the period January-
June 1988 imports into the zones and exports from the zones was $5,329.9
million and $3,428.0 million respectively

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FILES ON CD-ROM

U.S. Exports of Merchandise on CD-ROM



These files are in dBase III format.  There are 9 database files and 10
index files.  The index files pertain to the database files as they are
shown below.  To access each index, use the key listed with the index.


    EXP_DETL.DBF         Detail Database
    EXP_DETL.CDY         Index File - Key:  DOM_OR_FOR + COMMODITY(1)
    EXP_DETL.CTY         Index File - Key:  DOM_OR_FOR + CTY_CODE
    EXP_DETL.DST         Index File - Key:  DOM_OR_FOR + DIST_CODE

    EXP_COMM.DBF         Commodity Summary Database
    EXP_COMM.NDX         Index File - Key:  DOM_OR_FOR + COMMODITY

    EXP_CTY.DBF          Country Summary Database
    EXP_CTY.NDX          Index File - Key:  CTY_CODE

    EXP_DIST.DBF         District of Export Summary Database
    EXP_DIST.NDX         Index File - Key:  DIST_CODE

    CONCORD.DBF          Harmonized Commodity Masters - Exports Concordance
                         Database
    CONCORD.NDX          Index File - Key:  COMMODITY

    HSDESC.DBF           Harmonized Commodity Masters - Commodity
                         Descriptions
    HSDESC2.NDX          Index File - Key:  LEFT (COMMODITY, 2)
    HSDESC4.NDX          Index File - Key:  LEFT (COMMODITY, 4)
    HSDESC6.NDX          Index File - Key:  COMMODITY

    SITCDESC.DBF         Harmonized Commodity Masters - SITC Descriptions

    COUNTRY.DBF          Country Name Database

    DISTRICT.DBF         Customs District Name Database



1.  Unique index file.  This points only to the first occurrence of each
key value.

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Export Detail Database

EXP_DETL.DBF



Field               Field  Field
Number  Field Name  Type   Size  Decimal  Field Description

 1     DOM_OR_FOR    C       1     0      Domestic Exports or
                                            Foreign Exports
                                            Domestic = 1, Foreign = 2
 2     COMMODITY     C      10     0      Export Harmonized Code
 3     COMM_DESC     C      50     0      Commodity Description
 4     CTY_CODE      C       4     0      Country Code
 5     CTY_DESC      C       7     0      Country Description
 6     DIST_CODE     C       2     0      District of Exportation
 7     DIST_DESC     C       7     0      District Name
 8     STAT_MONTH    C       2     0      Statistical Month
 9     CARDS_MO      N       8     0      Number of Detailed Records,
                                            Current Month
10     CARDS_YR      N       8     0      Number of Detailed Records,
                                            Year to Date
11     UNIT_QY1      C       3     0      First Unit of Quantity
                                            (e.g., number)
12     ALL_QY1_MO    N      12     0      Amount of First Unit of Quantity,
                                            Current Month
13     ALL_QY1_YR    N      12     0      Amount of First Unit of Quantity,
                                            Year to Date
14     UNIT_QY2      C       3     0      Second Unit of Quantity
                                            (if required)
15     ALL_QY2_MO    N      12     0      Amount of Second Unit of
                                            Quantity, Current Month
16     ALL_QY2_YR    N      12     0      Amount of Second Unit of
                                            Quantity, Year to Date
17     ALL_VAL_MO    N      12     0      F.A.S. Value, Current Month
18     ALL_VAL_YR    N      12     0      F.A.S. Value, Year to Date
19     VES_WGT_MO    N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                            Weight, Current Month
20     VES_WGT_YR    N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                            Weight, Year to Date
21     VES_VAL_MO    N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                            Value, Current Month
22     VES_VAL_YR    N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                            Value, Year to Date
23     AIR_WGT_MO    N      12     0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                            Weight, Current Month
24     AIR_WGT_YR    N      12     0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                            Weight, Year to Date
25     AIR_VAL_MO    N      12     0      Shipments by Air, F.A.S. Value,
                                            Current Month
26     AIR_VAL_YR    N      12     0      Shipments by Air, F.A.S. Value,
                                            Year to Date

         Total Size        274

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodity Summary Database

EXP_COMM.DBF



Field                Field  Field
Number  Field Name   Type   Size  Decimal  Field Description

 1     DOM_OR_FOR     C       1     0      Domestic Exports or Foreign
                                             Exports
                                             Domestic = 1, Foreign = 2
 2     COMMODITY      C      10     0      Export Harmonized Code
 3     COMM_DESC      C      50     0      Commodity Description
 4     STAT_MONTH     C       2     0      Statistical Month
 5     CARDS_MO       N       8     0      Number of Detailed Records,
                                             Current Month
 6     CARDS_YR       N       8     0      Number of Detailed Records,
                                             Year to Date
 7     UNIT_QY1       C       3     0      First Unit of Quantity
                                             (e.g., number)
 8     ALL_QY1_MO     N      12     0      Amount of Quantity,
                                             Current Month
 9     ALL_QY1_YR     N      12     0      Amount of Quantity, Year to Date
10     UNIT_QY2       C       3     0      Second Unit of Quantity
                                             (if required)
11     ALL_QY2_MO     N      12     0      Amount of Second Unit
                                             of Quantity, Current Month
12     ALL_QY2_YR     N      12     0      Amount of Second  Unit of
                                             Quantity, Year to Date
13     ALL_VAL_MO     N      12     0      F.A.S. Value, Current Month
14     ALL_VAL_YR     N      12     0      F.A.S. Value, Year to Date
15     VES_WGT_MO     N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                             Weight, Current Month
16     VES_WGT_YR     N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                             Weight, Year to Date
17     VES_VAL_MO     N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                             Value, Current Month
18     VES_VAL_YR     N      12     0      Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                             Value, Year to Date
19     AIR_WGT_MO     N      12     0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                             Weight, Current Month
20     AIR_WGT_YR     N      12     0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                             Weight, Year to Date
21     AIR_VAL_MO     N      12     0      Shipments by Air, F.A.S. Value,
                                             Current Month
22     AIR_VAL_YR     N      12     0      Shipments by Air, F.A.S. Value,
                                             Year to Date

            Total Size      254

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country Summary Database

EXP_CTY.DBF



Field                Field   Field
Number  Field Name   Type    Size   Decimal   Field Description

 1     CTY_CODE       C       4       0       Country Code
 2     CTY_DESC       C       7       0       Country Description
 3     STAT_MONTH     C       2       0       Statistical Month
 4     CARDS_MO       N       8       0       Number of Detailed Records,
                                               Current Month
 5     CARDS_YR       N       8       0       Number of Detailed Records,
                                                Year to Date
 6     ALL_VAL_MO     N      12       0       F.A.S. Value, Current Month
 7     ALL_VAL_YR     N      12       0       F.A.S. Value, Year to Date
 8     VES_WGT_MO     N      12       0       Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                                Weight, Current Month
 9     VES_WGT_YR     N      12       0       Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                                Weight, Year to Date
10     VES_VAL_MO     N      12       0       Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                                Value, Current Month
11     VES_VAL_YR     N      12       0       Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                                Value, Year to Date
12     AIR_WGT_MO     N      12       0       Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                Weight, Current Month
13     AIR_WGT_YR     N      12       0       Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                Weight, Year to Date
14     AIR_VAL_MO     N      12       0       Shipments by Air, F.A.S.
                                                Value, Current Month
15     AIR_VAL_YR     N      12       0       Shipments by Air, F.A.S.
                                                Value, Year to Date

           Total Size       150

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
District of Export Summary Database

EXP_DIST.DBF



Field               Field   Field
Number  Field Name  Type    Size   Decimal     Field Description

 1     DIST_CODE      C       2       0     District of Export Code
 2     DIST_DESC      C       7       0     District of Export Description
 3     STAT_MONTH     C       2       0     Statistical Month
 4     CARDS_MO       N       8       0     Number of Detailed Records,
                                              Current Month
 5     CARDS_YR       N       8       0     Number of Detailed
                                              Records, Year to Date
 6     ALL_VAL_MO     N      12       0     F.A.S. Value, Current Month
 7     ALL_VAL_YR     N      12       0     F.A.S. Value, Year to Date
 8     VES_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
 9     VES_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
10     VES_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                              Value, Current Month
11     VES_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, F.A.S.
                                              Value, Year to Date
12     AIR_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
13     AIR_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
14     AIR_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, F.A.S.
                                              Value, Current Month
15     AIR_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, F.A.S.
                                              Value, Year to Date

        Total Size          148

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonized Commodity Masters  Exports Concordance Database

CONCORD.DBF



Field                Field  Field
Number   Field Name  Type   Size  Decimal  Field Description

 1       ID_CODE      C       1      0     Identification Code = 1
 2       COMMODITY    C      10      0     Export Harmonized Commodity
                                             Coder
 3       FILL1        C       2      0     Filler
 4       DESCRIP_1    C     150      0     Description of 10-digit
                                             commodity
 5       FILL2        C       1      0     Filler
 6       DESCRIP_2    C      50      0     Abbreviated version of
                                             description
 7       FILL3        C       1      0     Filler
 8       QUANTITY_1   C       3      0     Alphabetic abbreviation of
                                             the first reporting unit
                                             of quantity as required by
                                             HTSUSA
 9       FILL4        C       1      0     Filler
10       QUANTITY_2   C       3      0     Second unit of quantity if
                                             required by HTSUSA
11       FILL5        C       1      0     Filler
12       SITC         C       5      0     Standard International Trade
                                             Classification Revision 3
                                             Code
13       FILL6        C       1      0     Filler
14       END_USE      C       5      0     End use classification
15       FILL7        C       1      0     Filler
16       SIC          C       4      0     Standard Industry
                                             Classification code
17       FILL8        C       7      0     Filler
18       USDA         C       1      0     Agriculture or non-
                                             agriculture product code
19       FILL9        C       1      0     Filler

            Total Size      249

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harmonized Commodity Masters
Commodity Descriptions

HSDESC.DBF



Field                Field   Field
Number  Field Name   Type    Size   Decimal   Field Description

1       ID_CODE       C        1      0       Identification Code = 6
2       COMMODITY     C        6      0       Import Harmonized
                                                Code  2, 4, or 6
                                                Digit Level
3       FILL1         C        6      0       Filler
4       DESCRIPTN     C      150      0       Description of Harmonized
                                                Code
5       FILL2         C        1      0       Filler
6       ABBREVIATN    C       50      0       Abbreviated version of
                                                description of Harmonized
                                                Code

            Total Size       215


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Harmonized Comodity Masters
Standard International Trade Classification Descriptions

SITCDESC.DBF



Field                 Field  Field
Number   Field Name   Type   Size  Decimal   Field Description

1       ID_CODE       C        1     0       Identification code = 5
2       SITC_CODE     C        5     0       SITC REV3 Code  1, 2, 3,
                                               4, or 5 Digit Level
3       FILL1         C        7     0       Filler
4       DESCRIPTN     C      150     0       Description of SITC
                                               REV3 product
5       FILL2         C        1     0       Filler
6       ABBREVIATN    C       50     0       Abbreviated description
                                               of SITC REV3 product

           Total Size        215

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country Name Database

COUNTRY.DBF



Field                 Field   Field
Number   Field Name   Type    Size   Decimal   Field Description

1        CTY_CODE      C       4       0       Country Code
2        CTY_DESC      C       7       0       Country Abbreviation
3        CTY_NAME      C      30       0       Country Name

             Total            42


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Customs District Name Database

DISTRICT.DBF



Field                Field   Field
Number  Field Name   Type    Size   Decimal   Field Description

1       DIST_CODE       C      2     0        District Code
2       DIST_DESC       C      7     0          District Abbreviation
3       DIST_NAME       C     30     0        District Name

         Total Size          40



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER II

Table of Contents

U.S. Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM




Abstract..............................................2-3

Introduction..........................................2-5

Data Source and Coverage..............................2-7

Files On CD-ROM.......................................2-9

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract


U.S. Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM
[machine-readable data file] / prepared
by the Bureau of the Census.  --Washington:
The Bureau [producer and distributor], 1990.



Type of File:

Summary statistics.

Universe Description:

The universe is reported U.S. import statistics, including both government
and nongovernment shipments of merchandise into the U.S. Customs Territory
(the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), U.S. Foreign Trade
Zones, and the U.S. Virgin Islands from foreign countries.

Subject-Matter Description:

The file provides net quantity, value data (all methods of transportation
combined), value and shipping weight data for vessel and air shipments in
terms of commodity by country of origin, by customs district of entry, by
customs district of unlading, and by rate provision.

Smaller files provide totals for each commodity, totals for each country of
origin, and totals for each customs district of entry and customs district
of unlading.

These data are provided for current month and year-to-date.

Geographic Coverage:

Data are provided for countries of origin and customs districts of import
for current month and year-to-date.

Technical Description:

File Structure:  dBase III format.  There are 10 database files and 11
index files.  The database and index files provide information about
detailed imports as well as information about commodities, countries,
districts of entry, districts of unlading, and the Harmonized Commodity
Description and Coding System (HS).  Further details on these files are
provided in Chapter IV of the technical documentation, Files on CD-ROM.

Reference Materials:

U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM Technical Documentation.
One copy accompanies each order.  Additional copies are available for $5
from Customer Services, Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.

Related Printed Reports:

U.S. Merchandise Trade (FT 900 and Supplement).  This report presents U.S.
export data on a free-alongside-ship (f.a.s.) value basis and provides
general import data both on a customs value and cost, insurance, freight
(c.i.f.) value basis.  Total exports, imports, and merchandise trade
balances are shown for each month of the current and preceding calendar
years.  This monthly report is available from the Foreign Trade Division,
Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233.  The cost is $10 per month or
$120 for an annual subscription.  Portions of the report are available
online through CENDATATM, the Census Bureau's online information service.

U.S. Merchandise Trade:  Exports, General Imports, and Imports for
Consumption SITC Commodity by Country (FT 925).  This publication presents
both customs and c.i.f. value information for general imports and imports
for consumption in terms of Standard International Trade Classification
(SITC) commodities.  The publication also shows f.a.s. value for SITC
commodity exports.  It includes both current month and year-to-date
information.  SITC commodity by country information is shown for those
countries where the average monthly value of each SITC commodity for either
exports or imports based on the year-to-date value is $50,000 or more.

Related Public Domain Software:

The Census Bureau has placed various software that can be used with CD-
ROM'S in the public domain.  This software is available to users from the
following two sources:

    -  The Census Bureau's electronic bulletin board.  You may access the
bulletin board using your modem on (301) 763-1568.  For information, the
voice grade telephone number is (301) 763-1580.

    -  The CD-ROM Software Clearinghouse at the University of Tennessee.
For information contact:

         Institute for Electronic Data Analysis
         Department of Marketing, Logistics and
           Transportation
         316 Stokley Management Center
         University of Tennessee
         Knoxville, Tennessee  37996

         Phone (615) 974-5311

File Availability:

The CD-ROM may be ordered from Customer Services using the order in
Appendix A.  The subscription rate for monthly releases from January to
December is $1200 per year.  The introductory subscription for September -
December 1989 data files is $400.  Individual CD-ROM's cost $150.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction


History

The United States may be said to have had an adequate set of import and
export statistics only since 1821.  During the years 1795-1801, import
value figures were estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
figures for the years 1790-1794 and from 1802-1820 were apparently
estimated many years later.  In the case of exports, it was required by
statute that the dollar value in the statistics should be the value
reported by the master of the vessel on which the goods left the country,
but it was common practice for the U.S. Collectors of Customs to adjust
this reported value quite arbitrarily.  By an Act approved February 1820,
``to provide for obtaining accurate statements of the Foreign Commerce of
the United States,'' a provision was made for the preparation of
statistical accounts of the commerce of the United States with foreign
countries by the Register of the Treasury to show the kinds, quantities and
values of all articles exported to and of all articles imported from each
foreign country.  These early and simple beginnings of foreign trade data
have developed into the current comprehensive export and import statistical
program.  The statistics are used extensively by both the public and
private sectors of the country.

Uses of Foreign Trade Data

Following are some of the uses of foreign trade statistics made by the
public sector:

    -  To develop the merchandise trade figures which is part
       of the balance of payments accounts

    -  To appraise and analyze major movements and trends
       (commodity and geographic) in international trade

    -  To evaluate and plan such programs as the export
       expansion, agricultural and assistance programs under
       the Foreign Assistance Act and the Merchant Marine Act

    -  To measure the impact of tariff and trade concessions
       under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
       and the General System of Preference

    -  As a statistical base to implement and analyze
       operations under various international agreements such
       as the Multi-Fiber Agreement, the Canadian Automotive
       Products Agreement, the International Coffee Agreement,
       etc.

    -  To develop aggregative import and export data for use in
       the National Accounts (GNP)

The Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce
District Offices, Department of Energy, Customs Service, Army Corps of
Engineers, Maritime Administration, Federal Maritime Commission,
International Trade Commission, Office of the Special Trade Representative,
and the Bureau of Economic Analysis are some of the U.S. government
agencies that use the foreign trade statistics to assist them in fulfilling
their administrative responsibilities.

Following are some of the uses of foreign trade statistics made by the
private sector:

    -  To appraise the general trade situation

    -  As a basis for share-of-the-market penetration studies

    -  As a basis for product and market development

    -  As one of the statistical bases for determining
       marketing policies

    -  To measure the impact of competition

    -  To determine the need for the design of future facilities and
       equipment

Exporters, importers, manufacturers, financial organizations, research
institutions, the petroleum industry, business organizations, the
agricultural industry, steamship lines, airlines, port authorities, and
international organizations are some of the principal non-U.S. government
users of the foreign trade statistics.

U.S. Merchandise Trade (FT 900) is released 45 days after the month covered
as a press release, and is the first available monthly foreign trade
report.  It contains overall export, import and trade balance figures that
are anxiously awaited by U.S. government agencies, Wall Street, other non-
government organizations as well as by foreign countries, particularly the
major U.S. trading partners.

Commodity Classification Systems Effective January 1, 1989

The United States has joined the rest of the world in adopting a new import
and export commodity classification system.  The new import and export
schedules are based on the international Harmonized Commodity Description
and Coding System (HS).

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System - HS.  The international
Harmonized Commodity and Coding System (HS) is a system for classifying
goods in international trade which has been developed under the auspices of
the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC), located in Brussels.  The CCC is an
international organization consisting of representatives of about 150
countries.  The United States is represented in the CCC by the U.S. Customs
Service.

The HS is intended to serve as a universally accepted product nomenclature
classification of goods for the administration of customs programs, the
collection of data on exports and imports, the determination of
classification for assessment of freight charges, the collection of
transport statistics for each mode of carrier, and the collection of
statistics on the volume of domestic production and/or shipments.

The Harmonized System, like its predecessor Customs Cooperation Council
Nomenclature (CCCN), and the Brussels Tariff Nomenclature (BTN) systems, is
a commodity classification system in which articles are grouped largely
according to the nature of the materials of which they are made, as has
been traditional in customs nomenclatures. The HS contains approximately
5000 headings and subheadings covering all articles in trade.  These
provisions are organized in 96 chapters arranged in 26 sections which,
along with the interpretive rules and legal notes to the chapters and
sections, form the legal text of the Harmonized System.

The headings and subheadings of the international HS are identified by
number, of which the first two digits represent the heading position in
that chapter, and the second two digits represent the divisions
(subheadings) of the heading.  The HS is for the most part a hierarchical
system in the sense that there is nothing classifiable at a given 4-digit
heading level that is not included in the given chapter (2-digit level);
there is nothing classifiable at a given 6-digit subheading that is not
included in the 4-digit heading.  The 2-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit levels of the
HS all have meaning, from a logical and analytical statistical standpoint.
However, the 1- and 3-digit levels represent only a combination of numbers
and categories; these combinations may often not represent categories of
logical or analytical interest.  The HS 6-digit coding system can be
adopted as is by individual countries, or can be expanded by adding digits
for national purposes.  The Customs Cooperation Council Nomenclature (CCCN)
which will be superseded by the HS consists of approximately 1000 commodity
classifications.  The file Section6.DBF on the CD-ROM lists the complete
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Data Source and Coverage


Source of Import Information

The official U.S. import statistics are compiled from copies of the Customs
Service Entry Summary forms which are required to be filed with Customs at
the time the merchandise is released to the importers.  Under the Customs
Service Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system, import brokers may submit
all required import information on their import shipments to Customs
through computer transmission in lieu of filing Entry Summaries.  For these
ABI transactions, Customs submits the import data to the Bureau of the
Census on computer tape.  There are about 750,000 import shipments (Entry
Summary) made each month, of which about 73 percent are made under the ABI
system.

The following items of information appearing on Entry Summaries (and ABI
computer tapes) are processed for use in the compilation of the import
statistics.

Entry Type Code.  The type of entry being filed (consumption, warehouse
entry, warehouse withdrawal, etc.).

Entry Date.  The date the goods are released to the importer.  This date is
used as the basis for the statistical month.

Port Code.  The port where the merchandise was entered under an entry
permit (the port where the entry was filed and the merchandise released to
the importer).

Ultimate Consignee.  The State in the ultimate consignee address.

Export Date.  The date on which the carrier departed the last port in the
exporting country.

Country of Origin.  The country of origin is the country of manufacture,
production or growth of any article.  Further work or material added to an
article in another country must effect a substantial transformation in
order to render such other country the ``country of origin.''

Mode of Transportation.  The method of transportation by which the imported
merchandise entered the first U.S. port from the last foreign country.
Also for vessel shipments, whether the merchandise was containerized.

Importing Carrier.  The name of the carrier transporting the merchandise
from the foreign port of lading to the first U.S. port of unlading.

Foreign Port of Lading.  The foreign port at which the merchandise was
actually laden on the vessel that carried the merchandise to the United
States.

U.S. Port of Unlading.  The port at which the merchandise was unladen  from
the importing vessel or aircraft.

Import Date.  The date on which the importing vessel transporting the
merchandise from the foreign country arrived within the limits of the U.S.
port with the intent to unlade.  For merchandise arriving in the United
States other than by vessel, the import date is the date in which the
merchandise arrived within the limits of the United States.

HTSUSA Number.  The reporting number under which the article is classified
in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated.

Gross Weight.  The gross shipping weight in kilograms for articles imported
in vessels and aircraft.

Net Quantity.  The amount in terms of the unit(s) specified in the HTSUSA.

Customs Import Value. (1)  The price actually paid or payable for
merchandise when sold for exportation to the United States, excluding U.S.
import duties, freight, insurance and other charges incurred in bringing
the merchandise to the United States. (This value approximates the f.a.s.
value.)

Charges.(1)  Cost (not including U.S. import duty) of freight, insurance,
and all other costs, charges and expenses incurred in bringing the
merchandise from alongside the carrier at the foreign port of lading in the
exporting country and placing it alongside the carrier at the first U.S.
port of entry.

Values in Import Statistics

Customs Import Value.  The Customs value reflects the value of imports as
appraised by the U.S. Customs Service in accordance with the legal
requirements of the Tariff Act of 1930 as amended.  This value is generally
defined as the price actually paid or payable for merchandise when sold for
exportation to the United States, excluding U.S. import duties, freight,
insurance and other charges incurred in bringing the merchandise to the
United States.

Import Charges.  The import charges represent the aggregate cost of all
freight, insurance and other charges (excluding import duties) incurred in
bringing the merchandise from alongside the carrier at the port of
exportation and placing it alongside the carrier at the first port of entry
in the United States.

C.I.F. Import Value.  The c.i.f. (cost, insurance and freight) value
consists of the Customs value as defined plus all freight, insurance and
other charges (excluding U.S. import duties) incurred in bringing the
merchandise from alongside the carrier at the port of exportation to the
first port of arrival in the United States.

Dutiable Value of Imports and Calculated Duty.  The ``dutiable value''
represents in general, the Customs value of foreign merchandise imported
into the United States which is subject to duty.  The ``calculated duty''
represents the estimated duty collected.  Estimated data are calculated by
Census computers based on the applicable rate(s) of duty as shown in the
HTSUSA.
Import Value Conversion

The importer must declare the import value in U.S. dollars.  In those cases
where the value shown on an import invoice is in foreign currency, the
importer must convert it into U.S. dollars.  In making this conversion, the
importer should use the exchange rate as of the first day of the current
quarter.  However, if the exchange rate changes by 5 or more percent during
the current quarter, the importer must use the current daily exchange rate.

Coverage

The statistics compiled and published by the Census Bureau on U.S. imports
are presented in terms of both general imports and imports for consumption.
General imports are a combination of entries for immediate consumption,
entries into Customs bonded warehouses, and entries into U.S. Foreign Trade
Zones, thus generally reflecting total arrival of merchandise.  Imports for
consumption are a combination of entries for immediate consumption,
withdrawals from warehouses for consumption, and entries of merchandise
into U.S. Customs territory from U.S. Foreign Trade Zones, thus generally
reflecting the total of commodities entered into U.S. consumption channels.

Effective October 1989, import statistics are fully compiled on shipments
valued over $1,250 except for textile articles which must be reported on
formal entries when valued over $250.  Value data for shipments valued
under $1,251 (under $251, for textiles) are estimated for individual
countries using factors based on the ratios of low-valued shipments to
individual country totals.  These estimates appear in the statistics as
``Shipments Under $1,251 (Estimated)'' and are excluded from individual
commodities. Therefore, the statistics for the individual commodity
classifications are undercounted due to the exclusion of data for shipments
valued under $1,251 (under $251 for textiles) The total value so excluded
amounts to slightly less than
4 percent of the monthly import total.



(1).  The sum of the Customs value and the charges is the c.i.f. (cost,
insurance and freight) value.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

FILES ON CD-ROM

U.S. Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM



These files are in dBase III format.  There are 10 database files and 11
index files.  The index files pertain to the database files as they are
shown below.  To access each index, use the key listed with the index.


     IMP_DETL.DBF          Detail Database
     IMP_DETL.CDY          Index File - Key:  COMMODITY(1)
     IMP_DETL.CTY          Index File - Key:  CTY_CODE
     IMP_DETL.DST          Index File - Key:  DIST_CODE

     IMP_COMM.DBF          Commodity Summary Database
     IMP_COMM.NDX          Index File - Key:  COMMODITY

     IMP_CTY.DBF           Country Summary Database
     IMP_CTY.NDX           Index File - Key:  CTY_CODE

     IMP_DE.DBF            District of Entry Summary Database
     IMP_DE.NDX            Index File - Key:  DIST_ENTRY

     IMP_DU.DBF            District of Unlading Summary Database
     IMP_DU.NDX            Index File - Key:  DIST_UNLAD

     CONCORD.DBF           Harmonized Commodity Masters - Imports
                             Concordance Database
     CONCORD.NDX           Index File - Key:  COMMODITY

     HSDESC.DBF            Harmonized Commodity Masters - Commodity
                             Descriptions
     HSDESC2.NDX           Index File - Key:  LEFT (COMMODITY, 2)
     HSDESC4.NDX           Index File - Key:  LEFT (COMMODITY, 4)
     HSDESC6.NDX           Index File - Key:  COMMODITY

     SITCDESC.DBF          Harmonized Commodity Masters - SITC
                             Descriptions

     COUNTRY.DBF           Country Name Database

     DISTRICT.DBF          Customs District Name Database


1.  Unique index file.  This points only to the first occurrence of each
key value.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Import Detail Database

IMP_DETL.DBF



Field                Field  Field
Number  Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal  Field Description

 1     COMMODITY      C      10       0     Import Harmonized Code
 2     COMM_DESC      C      50       0     Commodity Description
 3     UNIT_QY1       C       3       0     1st Unit of Quantity
 4     UNIT_QY2       C       3       0     2nd Unit of Quantity
 5     CTY_CODE       C       4       0     Country Code
 6     CTY_DESC       C       7       0     Country Description
 7     CTY_SUBCO      C       1       0     Country Subcode
 8     DIST_ENTRY     C       2       0     District of Entry
 9     D_E_DESC       C       7       0     District of Entry
                                              Description
10     DIST_UNLAD     C       2       0     District of Unlading
11     D_U_DESC       C       7       0     District of Unlading
                                              Description
12     RATE_PROV      C       2       0     Rate Provision Code
13     STAT_MONTH     C       2       0     Statistical Month
14     CARDS_MO       N       8       0     Number of Detailed Records,
                                              Current Month
15     CARDS_YR       N       8       0     Number of Detailed Records,
                                              Year to Date
16     CON_QY1_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, 1st
                                              Unit of Quantity, Current
                                              Month
17     CON_QY1_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, 1st
                                              Unit of Quantity, Year to
                                              Date
18     CON_QY2_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              2nd Unit of Quantity, Current
                                              Month
19     CON_QY2_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, 2nd1
                                              Unit of Quantity, Year to
                                              Date
20     CON_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Customs Value, Current Month
21     CON_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Customs Value, Year to Date
22     DUT_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Dutiable Value, Current Month
23     DUT_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Dutiable Value, Year to Date
24     CAL_DUT_MO     N      12       0     Calculated Duty, Current Month
25     CAL_DUT_YR     N      12       0     Calculated Duty, Year to Date
26     CON_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
27     CON_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date
28     CON_CIF_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, CIF
                                              Import Value, Current Month
29     CON_CIF_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, CIF
                                              Import Value, Year to Date
30     GEN_QY1_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, 1st Unit of
                                              Quantity, Current Month
31     GEN_QY1_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, 1st Unit of
                                              Quantity, Year to Date
32     GEN_QY2_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, 2nd Unit of
                                              Quantity, Current Month
33     GEN_QY2_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, 2nd Unit of
                                              Quantity, Year to Date
34     GEN_VAL_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, Customs Value,
                                              Current Month
35     GEN_VAL_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, Customs Value,
                                              Year to Date
36     GEN_CHA_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
37     GEN_CHA_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date
38     GEN_CIF_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, CIF Import
                                              Value, Current Month
39     GEN_CIF_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, CIF Import
                                              Value, Year to Date
40     VES_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Customs
                                              Value, Current Month
41     VES_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Customs
                                              Value, Year to Date
42     VES_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
43     VES_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
44     VES_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
45     VES_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date
45     AIR_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Customs
                                              Value, Current Month
47     AIR_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Customs
                                              Value, Year to Date
48     AIR_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
49     AIR_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
50     AIR_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
51     AIR_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date

        Total Size          549

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commodity Summary Database

IMP_COMM.DBF



Field                Field     Field
Number  Field Name   Type      Size    Decimal   Field Description

 1      COMMODITY       C       10        0      Import Harmonized Code
 2      COMM_DESC       C       50        0      Commodity Description
 3      UNIT_QY1        C        3        0      1st Unit of Quantity
 4      UNIT_QY2        C        3        0      2nd Unit of Quantity
 5      STAT_MONTH      C        2        0      Statistical Month
 6      CARDS_MO        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Current Month
 7      CARDS_YR        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Year to Date
 8      CON_QY1_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   1st Unit of Quantity,
                                                   Current Month
 9      CON_QY1_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   1st Unit of Quantity,
                                                   Year to Date
10      CON_QY2_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   2nd Unit of Quantity,
                                                   Current Month
11      CON_QY2_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   2nd Unit of Quantity,
                                                   Year to Date
12      CON_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
13      CON_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Year to
                                                   Date
14      DUT_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Current
                                                   Month
15      DUT_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Year to
                                                   Date
16      CAL_DUT_MO      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Current
                                                   Month
17      CAL_DUT_YR      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Year to
                                                   Date
18      CON_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Current
                                                   Month
19      CON_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Year to
                                                   Date
20      CON_CIF_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value,
                                                   Current Month
21      CON_CIF_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value, Year
                                                   to Date
22      GEN_QY1_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, 1st
                                                   Unit of Quantity,
                                                   Current Month
23      GEN_QY1_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, 1st Unit
                                                   of Quantity, Year to
                                                   Date
24      GEN_QY2_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, 2nd Unit
                                                   of Quantity, Current
                                                   Month
25      GEN_QY2_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, 2nd Unit
                                                   of Quantity, Year to
                                                   Date
26      GEN_VAL_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
27      GEN_VAL_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
28      GEN_CHA_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
29      GEN_CHA_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date
30      GEN_CIF_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Current
                                                   Month
31      GEN_CIF_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Year to
                                                   Date
32      VES_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
33      VES_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Year to
                                                   Date
34      VES_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight,
                                                   Current Month
35      VES_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight, Year
                                                   to Date
36      VES_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges, Current
                                                   Month
37      VES_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges, Year
                                                   to Date
38      AIR_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
39      AIR_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
40      AIR_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Current Month
41      AIR_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Year to Date
42      AIR_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
43      AIR_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date

         Total Size            517

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Country Summary Database

IMP_CTY.DBF



Field                 Field    Field
Number  Field Name    Type     Size   Decimal    Field Description

 1      CTY_CODE        C        4        0      Country Code
 2      CTY_DESC        C        7        0      Country Description
 3      STAT_MONTH      C        2        0      Statistical Month
 4      FILLER          C        3        0      Filler
 5      CARDS_MO        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Current Month
 6      CARDS_YR        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Year to
                                                   Date
 7      CON_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
 8      CON_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Year to
                                                   Date
 9      DUT_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Current
                                                   Month
10      DUT_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Year to
                                                   Date
11      CAL_DUT_MO      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Current
                                                   Month
12      CAL_DUT_YR      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Year to
                                                   Date
13      CON_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Current
                                                   Month
14      CON_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Year to
                                                   Date
15      CON_CIF_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value,
                                                   Current Month
16      CON_CIF_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value, Year
                                                   to Date
17      GEN_VAL_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
18      GEN_VAL_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
19      GEN_CHA_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
20      GEN_CHA_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date
21      GEN_CIF_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Current
                                                   Month
22      GEN_CIF_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Year to
                                                   Date
23      VES_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
24      VES_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Year
                                                   to Date
25      VES_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight, Current
                                                   Month
26      VES_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight, Year
                                                   to Date
27      VES_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges, Current
                                                   Month
28      VES_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges, Year to
                                                   Date
29      AIR_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
30      AIR_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
31      AIR_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Current Month
32      AIR_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Year to Date
33      AIR_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
34      AIR_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date

             Total Size        369

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

District of Entry Summary Database

IMP_DE.DBF



Field                 Field    Field
Number  Field Name    Type     Size    Decimal   Field Description

 1      DIST_ENTRY      C        2        0      District of Entry
 2      D_E_DESC        C        7        0      District of Entry
                                                   Description
 3      STAT_MONTH      C        2        0      Statistical Month
 4      FILLER          N        1        0      Filler
 5      CARDS_MO        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Current Month
 6      CARDS_YR        N        8        0      Number of Detailed
                                                   Records, Year to Date
 7      CON_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
 8      CON_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Customs Value, Year to
                                                   Date
 9      DUT_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Current
                                                   Month
10      DUT_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Dutiable Value, Year to
                                                   Date
11      CAL_DUT_MO      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Current
                                                   Month
12      CAL_DUT_YR      N       12        0      Calculated Duty, Year to
                                                   Date
13      CON_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Current
                                                   Month
14      CON_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   Import Charges, Year to
                                                   Date
15      CON_CIF_MO      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value,
                                                   Current Month
16      CON_CIF_YR      N       12        0      Imports for Consumption,
                                                   CIF Import Value, Year
                                                   to Date
17      GEN_VAL_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
18      GEN_VAL_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
19      GEN_CHA_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
20      GEN_CHA_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date
21      GEN_CIF_MO      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Current
                                                   Month
22      GEN_CIF_YR      N       12        0      General Imports, CIF
                                                   Import Value, Year to
                                                   Date
23      VES_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Current
                                                   Month
24      VES_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Customs Value, Year to
                                                   Date
25      VES_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight,
                                                   Current Month
26      VES_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Shipping Weight,
                                                   Year to Date
27      VES_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges,
                                                   Current Month
28      VES_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Vessel,
                                                   Import Charges,
                                                   Year to Date
29      AIR_VAL_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Current Month
30      AIR_VAL_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Customs
                                                   Value, Year to Date
31      AIR_WGT_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Current Month
32      AIR_WGT_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                                   Weight, Year to Date
33      AIR_CHA_MO      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Current Month
34      AIR_CHA_YR      N       12        0      Shipments by Air, Import
                                                   Charges, Year to Date

          Total Size           365

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

District of Unlading Database

IMP_DU.DBF



Field                Field  Field
Number Field Name    Type   Size   Decimal  Field Description

 1     DIST_UNLAD     C       2       0     District of Unlading
 2     D_U_DESC       C       7       0     District of Unlading
                                               Description
 3     STAT_MONTH     C       2       0     Statistical Month
 4     FILLER         C       1       0     Filler
 5     CARDS_MO       N       8       0     Number of Detailed Records,
                                              Current Month
 6     CARDS_YR       N       8       0     Number of Detailed Records,
                                              Year to Date
 7     CON_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Customs Value, Current Month
 8     CON_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Customs Value, Year to Date
 9     DUT_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Dutiable Value, Current Month
10     DUT_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Dutiable Value, Year to Date
11     CAL_DUT_MO     N      12       0     Calculated Duty, Current Month
12     CAL_DUT_YR     N      12       0     Calculated Duty, Year to Date
13     CON_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Import Charges, Current Month
14     CON_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption,
                                              Import Charges, Year to Date
15     CON_CIF_MO     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, CIF
                                              Import Value, Current Month
16     CON_CIF_YR     N      12       0     Imports for Consumption, CIF
                                              Import Value, Year to Date
17     GEN_VAL_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, Customs Value,
                                              Current Month
18     GEN_VAL_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, Customs Value,
                                              Year to Date
19     GEN_CHA_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
20     GEN_CHA_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date
21     GEN_CIF_MO     N      12       0     General Imports, CIF Import
                                              Value, Current Month
22     GEN_CIF_YR     N      12       0     General Imports, CIF Import
                                              Value, Year to Date
23     VES_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Customs
                                              Value, Current Month
24     VES_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Customs
                                              Value, Year to Date
25     VES_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
26     VES_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
27     VES_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
28     VES_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Vessel, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date
29     AIR_VAL_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Customs
                                              Value, Current Month
30     AIR_VAL_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Customs
                                              Value, Year to Date
31     AIR_WGT_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Current Month
32     AIR_WGT_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Shipping
                                              Weight, Year to Date
33     AIR_CHA_MO     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Import
                                              Charges, Current Month
34     AIR_CHA_YR     N      12       0     Shipments by Air, Import
                                              Charges, Year to Date

        Total Size          365

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harmonized Commodity Masters  Imports Concordance Database

CONCORD.DBF



Field                Field  Field
Number  Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal      Field Description

 1      ID_CODE       C        1      0      Identification Code = 2
 2      COMMODITY     C       10      0      Import Harmonized Code
 3      FILL1         C        2      0      Filler
 4      DESCRIP_1     C      150      0      Description of 10-digit
                                               commodity
 5      FILL2         C        1      0      Filler
 6      DESCRIP_2     C       50      0      Abbreviated version of
                                               description
 7      FILL3         C        1      0      Filler
 8      QUANTITY_1    C        3      0      Alphabetic abbreviation of
                                               the first reporting unit
                                               of quantity as required by
                                               HTSUSA
 9      FILL4         C        1      0      Filler
10      QUANTITY_2    C        3      0      Second unit of quantity if
                                               required by HTSUSA
11      FILL5         C        1      0      Filler
12      SITC          C        5      0      Standard International Trade
                                               Classification Revision 3
                                               Code
13      FILL6         C        1      0      Filler
14      END_USE       C        5      0      End use classification
15      FILL7         C        1      0      Filler
16      SIC           C        4      0      Standard Industry
                                               Classification
                                               code
17      FILL8         C        7      0      Filler
18      USDA          C        1      0      Agriculture or non-agriculture
                                               product code
19      FILL9         C        1      0      Filler

             Total Size      249

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harmonized Commodity Masters
Commodity Descriptions

HSDESC.DBF



Field                  Field  Field
Number    Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal   Field Description

1         ID_CODE        C       1      0      Identification Code = 6
2         COMMODITY      C       6      0      Import Harmonized Code
3         FILL1          C       6      0      Filler
4         DESCRIPTN      C     150      0      Description of Harmonized
                                                 Code
5         FILL2          C       1      0      Filler
6         ABBREVIATN     C      50      0      Abbreviated version of
                                                 description of Harmonized
                                                 Code

         Total Size            215




--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Harmonized Comodity Masters
Standard International Trade Classification Descriptions

SITCDESC.DBF



Field                 Field  Field
Number   Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal   Field Description

1        ID_CODE        C       1      0      Identification code = 5
2        SITC_CODE      C       5      0      SITC REV3 Code
3        FILL1          C       7      0      Filler
4        DESCRIPTN      C     150      0      Description of SITC
                                                REV3 product
5        FILL2          C       1      0      Filler
6        ABBREVIATN     C      50      0      Abbreviated description of
                                                SITC REV3 product

        Total Size            215

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Country Name Database

COUNTRY.DBF



Field                  Field  Field
Number    Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal   Field Description

1         CTY_CODE       C      4        0     Country Code
2         CTY_DESC       C      7        0     Country Abbreviation
3         CTY_NAME       C     30        0     Country Name

              Total            42




----------------------------------------------------------------------


Customs District Name Database

DISTRICT.DBF



Field                 Field  Field
Number   Field Name   Type   Size   Decimal  Field Description

1        DIST_CODE      C      2      0      District Code
2        DIST_DESC      C      7      0      District Abbreviation
3        DIST_NAME      C     30      0      District Name

        Total Size            40

----------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX B

User Notes


This appendix is reserved for information relevant to the U.S. Exports and
Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM file that becomes available after the file
is released.  User Notes received should be filed behind this page.

These User Notes will be sent to all users who received their file (or
technical documentation) from the Census Bureau and returned the coupon on
the following page.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

USER NOTE ORDER INFORMATION

Additional information concerning this file may be available at a later
date.  If you received this technical documentation from the Census Bureau
and wish to receive these User Notes, please complete the coupon below and
return it to:



Data User Services Division
Customer Services Branch
Bureau of the Census
Washington, DC  20233



--------------------------------------------------------------------------




*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *


Name of File:  U.S. Exports and Imports of Merchandise on CD-ROM


Please send me any information that becomes available later concerning the
file listed.


     Name:



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